The Code Enforcement Division presented the idea to city officials during an informal meeting March 4, and commissioners plan to vote on it in a few months.

The proposed tickets, which are similar to traffic citations, would replace part of the current system, which refers code violations to a special magistrate or code enforcement board before imposing a fine. City officials say the system wastes too much time and lets some code breakers go unpunished.

"It's not a cure-all for all our code violations, but it would certainly be helpful to have," Code Enforcement Manager Michael Maloney told commissioners.

Maloney said the current process burdens his department. The inspection, notice, reinspection and hearing for each case takes too long, giving people a chance to fix the problem before the special magistrate appearance and before a fine is issued.

City Commissioner Carlton Moore said he supports the idea, which would discourage repeated code abuse.

"We tend to have people who own property who play that game and play it on and on and on," Moore said. "People are truly frustrated with property owners who disrespect our code."

The system also lets some violators get away, Maloney said. Code officers have no way of citing roadside vendors or people who place signs on street medians and sidewalks. Officers end up spending hours removing signs, Maloney said.

Like traffic tickets, the code citations would require people to pay a fine or appear before a special magistrate. The city would still rely on the traditional hearing process, but not for all cases. Some violations that officers would write tickets for include running a business without a license, working without a building permit, noise disturbance and life and safety matters.

Handing out code tickets would encourage people to comply sooner, Maloney said.

Maloney also wants to raise the fine limit for cases that do get hearings. The $250 daily limit would go up to $1,000 for the first offense. Repeat violators would end up paying up to $5,000 a day. And the fine would be $15,000 if a violation were irreversible or irreparable.

State law allows cities to give out code tickets, but City Attorney Harry Stewart said it would require "total revamping" of the current system.